Thursday, December 24, 2015

Season's greetings from the Canadian Magazines blog

The very best of the season to all the readers of Canadian Magazines. As has become our custom, we are downing tools until after New Year's and will be back to publishing on Monday, January 4th with our 2015 look-back . Meanwhile, best wishes to all of you and to all people who make magazines in Canada and elsewhere. (You may be interested to know we'll be going into our 12th year of blogging in February. And soon thereafter, we'll have posted our 7,500th item.)

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A visitor to the Forbes magazine website may be surprised by the message that tells them they need to disable their ad blocker to continue accessing the site. In return, according to a story on Digiday, they are given an "ad-light experience" for 30 days, during which it is hoped they would "whitelist" the site. Forbes will still serve up ads, but they do not include autoplay video or animation. The company regards this as a test, during which they'll see how readers react and behave.

“It’s about doing something based on what our users are looking for versus not doing anything,” said Mark Howard, chief revenue officer at Forbes Media.

(Other publishers such as The Atlantic are making polite requests that ad blockers be turned off. Most publishers and advertisers are puzzling over how to retain readers without losing ad revenue and how to respond to ad blocking software without coming out on the wrong end of the argument.)

The Forbes approach is interesting in offering a different experience for users of ad blockers, but it also creates something of a moral hazard of rewarding people who install ad blockers with a better user experience.

“They’ve already chosen to install the ad blockers,” said Howard. “They’ve already chosen that Web experience. For us, is there an experience we can offer that they’ll whitelist us? It’s not all or nothing.”

Freelance writers may soon have recourse to a new law that is being considered by New York City and which would require all employers to put contracts in writing, impose civil and criminal penalties for taking longer than 30 days to deliver payments, and award double damages plus attorneys fees to contractors who’ve been stiffed. Just like people with real jobs.According to a story in the Washington Post's Wonkblog, the need for the legislation is being driven in part by the growing trend of slow, short or non-payment of freelance fees.

"It's clear that there are some companies that have made it a business practice to not pay freelancers,” says the legislation’s sponsor Councilman Brad Lander, whose Brooklyn district is full of them. "I see this as one critical step in one broader project of building protections for workers in the independent economy.”

The idea for the bill came from the Freelancer's Union, a 20-year-old organization that says 70% of its members have lost some money to delinquent accounts.

"It's almost become something that people view as the price of doing business, just accepting that they won’t get paid,” says Sara Horowitz, the Freelancers Union’s founder and director. “It’s really crazy, because it’s a lot of money, and it’s really bad practice for companies to think they can do this.”

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Dance Currentmagazine has taken a mentorship role in developing an emerging generation of dance professionals to carry on conversation about the Canadian dance scene. The results of its pilot Student Reporter Project (SRP) are online now, with 10 students taking part nationwide at schools and training institutions visited last fall. Participation in the pilot was purely voluntary and based on written submissions and "reflective engagement". Megan Andrews, the executive director and SRP Mentor/Editor, said

“The Dance Current is committed to the project of field-building in Canadian dance. We have always been about connecting communities and sharing perspectives. With this project, we aim to share the experiences and views of this emerging generation of dance professionals with the broader dance sector. I’m excited to be working with such enthusiastic students in crafting the expression of their ideas. I hope some of them will become regular contributors to the magazine in future.”

Annex contracts with Equisoft for fulfillment and audience management software

Annex Business Media, Canada's largest B2B publisher, has signed a multi-year contract with Equisoft for its PublisherElements suite of fulfillment and audience management software. Annex publishes more than 50 b2b magazines across a variety of industrial sectors, including websites and enewsletters, serving more than 600,000 readers.

“We are extremely proud to be able to add
Annex to our client list,” said Luis Romero, CEO of EquiSoft. “This represents
a important step in our strategy of providing B2B publishers with the
best-in-class pursuing audience management tools and database development services.”

“We selected EquiSoft after a rigorous,
year-long process,” said Scott Jamieson, director of content and engagement of
Annex. “Their tools, willingness to build around our needs, and ability to
bring us closer to our readers drove our decision.”

VICE magazine has announced it will unveil a global redesign in March. Launched as a small punk magazine in Montreal 21 years ago, it has since expanded (ed note: exploded might be a better word) into a multimedia network operating in 20 countries and with a network of alliances and its own cable channel next year.

"So what will change?" asks editor-in-chief Ellis Jones. "While we will continue to collaborate with some of the best writers and artists out there, bringing you the long-form features, ground-breaking photography, and captivating fiction VICE has become known for, we'll use this opportunity to usher in a big increase in cultural coverage as well as new voices and columnists examining sex, finance, and much more.

"Our digital channels will also become increasingly involved, with space carved out for them to discuss the latest in music, science, technology, women's issues, and more. Finally, we'll overhaul the magazine's overall look and feel."

While there were relatively fewer launches of Canadian and U.S. magazines during 2015 (a net gain of 78, compared to 91 in 2014) there were also fewer closures, according to figures tracked by MediaFinder. There were fewer launches, but also fewer closures -- only 35, compared with 99 in 2014. 13 new b2b magazines were launched, down from 47 last year, but only 7 titles were closed, compared with 27 in 2014. The margin between launches and closures has reached its narrowest point since 2010, however. [Click graph to enlarge]

Group of big mag publishers intend to abandon NMAs and start their own awards program starting in 2017

Several of the largest magazine publishers in Canada have written to the National Magazine Awards Foundation saying they intend to drop out of the annual awards in 2017 and start an awards program of their own. The letter to the board of the NMAs dated November 19 is co-signed by

Shelley Ambrose, publisher of The Walrus and executive director of The Walrus Foundation

Robert Goyette, vice-president and editor-in-chief of Reader's Digest

It says that there needs to be "far fewer and more meaningful awards" and that they should be "more closely aligned to celebrating excellence at the very highest level".Joyce Byrne, the president of the National Magazine Awards Foundation told us

The NMAF received a letter in late November from five publishers communicating their decision to create a new awards program in 2017. The NMAF responded with a request for additional information as well as an opportunity to meet and discuss how the needs of the magazine industry could best be served by both parties. This request was declined. The NMAF remains focussed on celebrating excellence in the magazine industry and its call for the 2016 National Magazine Awards is now open. It's the NMAF's intent in 2016 to continue to recognize and promote excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines, in a manner that is national, bilingual, and representative of the Canadian magazine industry.

The board of the National Magazine Awards Foundation met last Friday about the letter and confirmed that it intends to proceed with this year's awards program (the 39th) as planned. Entries are already being received; the deadline is January 15. This is not the first time that larger magazines have threatened to abandon or boycott the awards. The "Gang of Six" as they came to be known in the early '90s -- including editors of Homemaker's, TV Guide, Reader's Digest, Chatelaine and Maclean's -- complained that (among other things) there were too many awards and they didn't reflect what they published and therefore it wasn't possible for them to win (at least as often as they thought they should.) That ultimatum eventually fizzled out, although only after an exhaustive review of the procedures of the awards program and its judging; indeed one of the leaders of the Gang, Homemaker's editor in chief Sally Armstrong, eventually became the president of the Magawards. [Disclosure: I was president in 1991 during the contretemps.]There has always been a conflict between those who feel the awards should reward excellence by contributors (writers, photographers, illustrators) and those who feel the awards should go to the magazines in which they are published (as in the U.S. magazine awards.)

Friday, December 11, 2015

Maclean's magazine is parlaying the groundswell of public interest in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by holding a live town hall with him on Wednesday, December 16 from Ottawa and using Rogers Media's range of print and broadcast properties and talent to present it.Hosted by political editor Paul Wells, the one-hour broadcast will take place from Ottawa's National Arts Centre in front of a live audience. and be carried commercial free on Macleans.ca, City, OMNI 1 in Italian, OMNI 2 in Mandarin, Rogers TV (in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland), CPAC, and CPAC.ca at 2 p.m. ET. Later that evening, City, OMNI 1 in Italian, OMNI 2 in Mandarin, Rogers TV and CPAC will broadcast an encore presentation of the Town Hall, commercial free, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.During the question period, the Prime Minister will first take queries from Wells, Rachel Giese (Chatelaine) and Alec Castonguay (L'actualité). Canadians across the country will then have their turn, including those in the live audience, and those on Facebook and Twitter. The public can submit their questions on Macleans.ca and the magazine's Facebook page and, according to Maclean's neither Trudeau nor his staff will see any of the questions in advance.

"The last time Justin Trudeau visited Maclean's five months ago, his party was in third place in the polls and I asked all the questions," says Wells. "Now he's the Prime Minister and we're inviting Canadians to ask their own questions, on the issues they're concerned about."

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Two of the biggest players in the U.S. and international magazine industry -- Condé Nast and Hearst -- are apparently in talks to share services, at least in the U.S. This would see Hearst Magazine Publishing Services (HMPS) offering print and digital services to Condé Nastand third party publishers.HMPS is an extension of the dominant fulfillment and data company CDS Global which operates as a separate entity from Hearst (and which advertises on this blog). Potential clients could have access to Hearst's digital asset management system as well as consumer marketing, consultation around content creation and advertising sales, procurement, production, Web site, app and e-edition development, financial management or subscription and fulfillment management.According to a story in WWD, Hearst Magazines president David Carey has been in talks with incoming Condé Nast chief executive officer Bob Sauerberg about becoming a client.

CDS already manages certain end-to-end outsourcing for 450 print and digital publishers, including such functions as order management, payment and customer service. Current clients include magazines from big publishers like Condé Nast and Rodale to smaller ones like August Home Publishing and Garden & Gun LLC.

Angela Merkel picked as Time's person of the year

The often-controversial pick for Person of the Year on Time magazine's cover is more and more less of an issue, although perhaps over whether there was serious consideration of Donald Trump. Fortunately, saner heads prevailed and Angela Merkel received the nod.

Magazines Canada has announced that Matthew Holmes is to be the successor to Mark Jamison as Chief Executive Officer of Magazines Canada. He steps into the position January 25. Holmes is an experienced association leader, having been the founding executive director of the Canadian Organic Trade Association. As such he has been involved in government policy developments and trade and market issues which are similar to the kind of government affairs, lobbying and policy work with which Jamison and Magazines Canada have been involved deeply. He has worked as a policy analyst within the federal government in Ottawa, and as the special assistant, government relations for the President of York University in Toronto.

"Holmes has been appointed to a number of senior government advisories, roundtables and task forces," a release said, "while also coordinating a popular annual policy conference and reception for Parliamentarians and their staff. His expert testimony before House and Senate Standing Committees has resulted in amendments to critical government legislation, while building trust and awareness of an emerging industry. Under his tenure, the association saw a 50% increase in membership and a seven-fold growth in revenue. Holmes was the first Canadian elected to the world umbrella group for organics, IFOAM–Organic International, based in Bonn, Germany.

What does he know about the magazine business, it might be asked? Well, he has quite an appetite for it, He has served on the editorial board of literary and trade magazines, and has published a book of poetry, as well as articles in a number of Canadian journals. In 2012, Holmes was the recipient of the gold National Magazine Award for poetry.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

D. B. Hebbard over at Talking New Media says in a current post that digital circulation of magazines seems to have peaked, at least judging by established U.S. majors. He points out that while digital's contributions to over all circulation numbers climbed for two year or so, towards a "magic level" of 10%, they seem to have stalled.Wired, which once claimed 10.2 percent of its circulation in digital subscriptions, now reports 7 percent.

"Most discussion about digital today in the magazine world centers on “total audience” a concept best exemplified by the MPA’s Magazine Media 360 reports. According to the MPA, magazine audience growth was nearly 10 percent in the first half of 2015, making magazine publishing one of the fastest growing segments in the US economy – something absolutely no one believes.

"The idea that measuring total audience reflects the power of a magazine brand makes sense, but it does little to actually sell advertising. The list of magazine being folded continues to grow not because total audiences are declining, but because too few ad pages are being sold into these struggling titles."

KRW awards to be renamed Canadian Business Media Awards; other changes being considered

What has become well-known as the "KRWs" will henceforth be called the "Canadian Business Media Awards, in memory of Kenneth R. Wilson". A message at the head of a survey to stakeholders says that the name change reflects the landscape of Canada's b2b publishers.In addition to asking stakeholders whether they intend to participate this year (tentative date, June 7), the questionnaire sounds them out about whether they support certain proposed changes and initiatives:

Splitting best cover category in two: best cover; and best in-house cover. (The rationale is that the latter would reward publications that make good covers on a limited budget.)

"best event", recognizing "general excellence and innovation in the creation and execution of an event that fulfills the publication’s mandate to its audience”?

"best use of data" recognizing "visual representation of information, processes or data -- either standalone or enhancements of other content"

"best words & pictures" recognizing "successful integration of visuals and text as inseparable elements, including but not limited to photo essays, a series of thematic images and graphic narratives"

"best technical content" recognizing “clarity, concision, depth of research and creativity in presenting complex information or ideas to an audience. Entries are not limited to text-based content and may include any and all print and digital formats, including video, static or interactive graphics, data, illustrations and any combination”

Adding blogs to the established category for "best regularly featured department or column"

Rebranding the Harvey Southam Leadership Award to recognize "outstanding career achievement, contributions to the industry and overall leadership of a member of the Canadian b2b media industry".

Including handling or other editors and/or art directors in written or visual awards (currently only writers, illustrators or photographers are named)

Entries are now being accepted for the 39th annual National Magazine Awards. There are 39 awards to be given out June 10: 21 written, 9 visual, 5 integrated and 4 special categories plus the always popular magazine of the year. For most categories, the entry fee is $95. (Exceptions are large and full-book categories, for $150 and best new magazine writer and photographer awards for which entry is only $25.) Small magazines (under $200,000 annual revenue) may be eligible to receive one free entry; these must be applied for by January 11.Final deadline for award entries is Friday, January 15.Nominations for the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement must be submitted by March 1.This year, for the first time, digital categories are part of the new Digital Publishing Awards program, with entries in tablets, web, podcast, multimedia and so on being accepted started January 4.

Memorial University in Newfoundland plans to cancel subscriptions to 2,500 academic journals in order to stay within its budget, according to a story posted by the CBC. Academic journals are the main resource for most faculty and student research. However, a weak Canadian dollar and rising subscription costs means the library can no longer afford to stay within its $5 million journal budget. The cancelled journals will no longer be available on the shelves or on the library's online database. Last week, the MUN library released a list of the journals it was cancelling, after soliciting feedback from faculty and students. Some 1,500 subscriptions would remain after the purge.

Head librarian Lorraine Busby said she doesn't want to cancel journal subscriptions, but MUN's libraries have few options.

"We really don't want to be doing this," said Busby. "When there isn't the ability to add to your budget, tough choices have to be made."

While Busby said the library is trying to mainly discontinue journals that aren't heavily used, political science professor Scott Matthews said several of the journals on the list are hugely important to him and his colleagues.

"These aren't obscure journals, these are the Time Magazines and Maclean's of our fields," he said."So having no access or substandard access to these is devastating."

The media group (SJM) of St. Joseph Communications is taking over the contract publication of three western magazines on behalf of divisions of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). The move is the result of a winning response to a request for proposal. Combined, the three magazines have a total circulation of 888,000. Publication and national ad sales will be centralized in Toronto.

Starting in February, SJM will publish three quarterlies:

AMA Insider (circ. 620,000)

CAA Saskatchewan Magazine (circ. 125,000) and

CAA Manitoba Magazine (circ. 143,000)

With the change, the brands Westworld Alberta (on behalf of the Alberta Motor Association), Westworld Saskatchewan (CAA Saskatchewan) and Going Places (CAA Manitoba) will be discontinued.

Westworld BC will apparently continue to be published by BC-based Canada Wide Media which had previously produced the magazines now taken over by SJM. CAA Magazine, also a quarterly, which serves Ontario and the Maritimes, will continue to be published by Totem Brand Stories. It has a total circulation of 1.65 million, of which 90% is in Ontario.

The new management of the western magazines will result in a redesign, more news and information about club services such as travel and roadside assistance and new websites. The first website, which will also have mobile versions, will be for the AMA amainsider.com . It will be rolled out in February; similar sites are to be created for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“We at St. Joseph are thrilled to be working with the CAA clubs to make their magazines even more engaging and valuable to association members,” said Douglas Kelly, SJM’s senior vice president, Strategic Content Labs.

Editor-in-chief of all three publications will be Kellie Davenport, who previously led the Air Miles magazine at Rogers Publishing. She will be working with magazine veteran Maryam Sanati at SJM.

Saturday, December 05, 2015

Visual artists in New Brunswick now have a new quarterly magazine to promote their work, called Created Here. The first two issues are out. Subscriptions are $40 a year and single copies are $7 at selected outlets, museums and galleries or $10 online. The print magazine started as a website and directory but has now expanded into a print product, too, according to a story from the CBC.

Morell

"People love to see something in print," said Marie-Hélène Morell, founder of CreatedHere.ca. "Beautiful photos and beautiful art. It's a totally different experience than online."

Morell works from her home in Grand Bay-Westfield and visits workshops and studios as she can (she has two small children and another on the way.) The goal of the magazine and website is unabashedly promotional.

"Publicity and promoting themselves is not often [artists'] strength," she said. "A lot of artists just want to be creating".

The project received some early funding from The Pond-Deshpande Centre, and also got advice and other support from the ArtsLinkNB Catapult Arts+Culture Accelerator program.

Friday, December 04, 2015

The Canada Council has released further details about its strategic redesign of its funding model. The dramatic changes are being gradually rolled out. Starting in December 2016 an online portal opens for profile registration and the first program deadline in April 2017.

The six new programs do not all relate to magazine publishing, but of those which apparently do or might be interpreted to, here are some details released today:

Professional development for artists (workshops, internships, specialized training) eligible for grant amounts up to $10,000 with applications anytime.

Organizations controlled by artists can apply for up to their three-year average of total revenues to fund Research, creative development, production and dissemination of artistic programming.

Core funding for artistic institutions (defined as those with annual revenues of more than $2 million) can amount to up to 25% of total three-year average revenues, with one deadline every four years.

"Artistic catalysts" are eligible to receive core funding up to 50% of their total revenues for eligible activities including research, creation and project development, including residencies. Artistic catalysts and defined as having "an ongoing contribution to artistic practice and strengthen the cultural life of communities.

National Arts Service Organizations (which probably means things such as Magazines Canada) may receive up to 60% of total revenues averaged over the preceding 3 years to fun Member services, networking, shared learning, research and analysis on behalf of the sector. Similar core funding on similar terms is available to support organizations that are involved in ongoing activities, services, shared platforms for the development of a group of artists or artistic practice.

Literary publishers with a history of publishing can receive grant amounts up to $300,000 over two years, based on Overall support towards developing and promoting writers through the publishing process. Projects that develop or promote writers are eligible for up to $30,000 annually.

There may be many other nuances in the funding model and niches into which literary and cultural magazine publishers may fit themselves. Further as we know the impacts and reactions. To find out more, register to participate in webinars January 7 at 1 p.m. (French) and January 8 at 1 p.m. in English.

There are a number of exciting learning opportunities available in the winter term of the Magazine and Web Publishing program at Ryerson University's Chang School. [Disclosure: I teach in the program.] NOTE: Registration is open now and it's important not to leave it until the last moment, risking disappointment.

CDJN 113 — Magazine and Website Editing deals with print and online skills in a focussed workshop environment. Drilling down into the editorial process, class members working in small groups get to use their skills and imagination in creating a plan for a digital or print magazine. 13 evenings, starting Jan 18.

CDJN 116 — Introduction to Magazine Design is a course that explores and analyzes how and why successful online and print magazines look the way they do. Not a design course, but rather an overview of typography, grids and formats; the anatomy of a magazine; developing design concepts and particularly the cover; working out a map; and the aesthetics and technical considerations of creating magazines that work for the reader. 13 evenings, starts 19 January.

CDJN 117 — Writing for Magazines and the Web. If you're serious about writing and selling articles for online or print magazines, this is the introduction that deals with conceiving, focusing, pitching, researching, structuring, writing and revising both short and longer feature articles. 13 evenings, starting Jan 20. (A prerequisite for 118)

CDJN 118 — Advanced Feature Writing The course emphasizes what is called literary journalism, which combines journalism's concern for solid reporting and factual accuracy with many of the dramatic techniques of fiction. At its best, this kind of feature writing holds readers' interest, entertaining them while simultaneously providing the depth and context necessary to understand complex issues and events or capture the essence of a profile subject. There will be short writing assignments as well as one longer feature. 13 evenings starting Jan 21.

CDJN 120 — Magazine Fact-Checking and Research In the magazine business, fact-checking is a key entry-level job, a way for aspiring writers or editors to learn how a magazine works and how professional writers put together a story, and to develop relationships with editors that can lead to assignments or jobs. For writers, the more they know about what happens to an article in fact-checking, the better prepared they'll be to provide what editors want. 7 evenings, starting Jan 19.

CDJN 121 — Magazine PackagingThe course looks at planning and assigning a story package for online and print: websites and tablets; editing stories destined for packages; and working with art directors and digital producers to create packages. A variety of types of stories will be discussed and provided by both the instructor and the students, from long features to visual stories to instructional pieces to words-and-pictures infographics. Students are encouraged to think of magazines as both print and digital products. ONLINE CLASS (Distance Ed.) 7 weeks, starting Jan 18.

CDJN 202 — Magazine Marketing and Circulation Selling of magazines themselves, rather than than their advertising pages currently offers more potential for revenue growth - and more career opportunities - than any other area of magazine publishing. This course focuses on marketing magazines to readers, covering all systems and methods that successful circulation marketing employs. 7 evenings, starts Jan 20.

CDJN 204 — Layout Software for Magazine Editors Many editors are expected to have some knowledge of the Adobe InDesign page layout program used to edit and format text, place artwork, create page layouts and organize editorial production and copy flow. This course provides the basics of the InDesign program that editors most need to know. Instruction is fast-paced, hands-on, and is taught in a Macintosh computer lab. 7 Saturdays mornings 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Starts Jan 23.

CDJN 205 — Magazine Production In addition to the fundamentals of print production, this course includes the basics of multi-purposing text and pictures for today's digital magazine realities. Acquire the skills to publish on multiple platforms, gain an overview of current magazine production practices, including how magazines are printed and bound, and about how to schedule, budget and track magazine production for all formats; about ad portals, pre-media, printing process, and quality control. 13 evenings, starting Jan 19.

CDJN 207 — The Online Publishing Toolkit The Online Publishing Toolkit is aimed at magazine professionals who want a general introduction to the technologies underlying digital publishing today. This course is not intended to make you a coding genius. Instead, to make sure you can talk knowledgeably with your IT staff, developers, and web designers about your publication's needs and ambitions online. Whether you’re in editorial, design, or publishing, learn to fully contribute to your magazines’ digital projects.Find out how to deliver content to readers whenever, wherever, and however they wish, with such vital tools as content management systems, mobile apps, "the cloud," digital versions and mobile editions, social media, micro sites, analytics, ad portals, and more. 7 evenings starting Jan 20.

CDJN 208 — Ad Sales on the Web Ad sales in the digital age requires traditional persuasive skills, but operating in a whole new world of design, accountability, and instant measurement. Digital delivery is a big part of the future of magazine publishing. Become familiar with the ways online advertising is priced, pitched, measured, designed, and packaged. Learn about rich text, standard ad formats and pricing, positioning your publication against such heavy-hitting competitors as Google, and exercising your creativity to meet online advertisers' needs. Understand the metrics that matter most to advertisers and agencies and how to package and deliver them. 7 evenings, starting Jan 21.

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Magazines have for a very long time been a staple of the checkout line at grocery and other stores. The major reason is that they are the most profitable items, ahead of (among many other things) gum and candy. Yet, according to a post by Jerry Lynch of the International Periodical Distributors Association (IPDA) in Publishing Executive Mars Inc. the owners of Mars bars and Wrigley candy and gum brands are putting on a concerted effort to push magazines out of the space and, of course, take it over themselves.Research shows that magazines are the most profitable item at the checkout ($1.07 true profit per unit), bring in 5 times the revenue of candy and are 14th in profit among 229 total store categories.

In my view, the Mars push should be taken as a call to action. In response to competitors’ intensifying efforts to secure more retail display space, magazine publishers, NDs and distribution partners should all be intensifying our own efforts to shout our category’s documented strengths from the rooftops.